WEBVTT - 9021One on One: Michael Anthony Rawlins 0:00:00.240 --> 0:00:10.840 It's with Jenny Garth and Tori Spelling. Today, you guys, 0:00:10.960 --> 0:00:18.040 we have an exciting Nino to one on one we 0:00:18.120 --> 0:00:22.639 have with us Uh, the actor who portrayed Jordan Bonner, 0:00:22.760 --> 0:00:26.040 who was Andrea's love interest, to name one of his 0:00:26.160 --> 0:00:30.680 roles on the show, UM, played by Michael Anthony rawlins. 0:00:31.400 --> 0:00:35.120 I'm looking at this um head shot of Michael and 0:00:35.200 --> 0:00:39.599 he is so handsome. Yes he is. I'll take that. 0:00:40.920 --> 0:00:45.320 Oh high. You can hear us, I can hear just fine, 0:00:45.400 --> 0:00:48.360 I can see you just fine. First of all, let 0:00:48.400 --> 0:00:53.000 me make a toast. Oh time, Where are you right now? 0:00:53.320 --> 0:00:58.160 I'm in my living room? But where I'm in l A? 0:00:58.160 --> 0:01:00.520 Are you in l A? I is gonna say it's 0:01:00.520 --> 0:01:05.199 five o'clock somewhere. But okay, this is actually a prop 0:01:05.440 --> 0:01:10.920 but it looks like water actually doesn't like a good prop. Um. 0:01:10.959 --> 0:01:13.040 But let that not put a damper on the cheers. 0:01:13.080 --> 0:01:15.959 I just want to make a touch to the original 0:01:16.120 --> 0:01:24.000 nine O two one O G crew. Hey, cheers, cheers. 0:01:24.000 --> 0:01:27.240 So nice to have a little drink of water with you. Yes, 0:01:27.680 --> 0:01:31.080 that was water too. We UM were thrilled to have 0:01:31.160 --> 0:01:34.520 you here because you started on our show when you 0:01:34.560 --> 0:01:36.759 were young, just like us, and you've gone to have 0:01:36.880 --> 0:01:42.080 this great, really fruitful career doing so many great roles 0:01:42.080 --> 0:01:46.000 on television and films, and it's just nice to see that. 0:01:46.360 --> 0:01:51.400 You know, thank you, thank you. When you start this journey, 0:01:51.440 --> 0:01:55.040 you never know where it's gonna lead to. So m 0:01:55.960 --> 0:01:58.480 just be able to stay in the game and have 0:01:58.680 --> 0:02:03.680 some longevity is uh beautiful thing. So what was the 0:02:03.960 --> 0:02:05.720 tell it talk us through the process of when you 0:02:05.760 --> 0:02:08.560 audition you got the part of Jordan's Bonner because you 0:02:08.600 --> 0:02:13.640 had already done like episodes of TV for other shows, right, Yeah, 0:02:13.680 --> 0:02:17.440 I had some. I've done some other shows, but nothing 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:21.440 that had the profile of your show. Like I remember 0:02:21.560 --> 0:02:24.600 that season three, if I'm not mistaken, weren't you all 0:02:24.760 --> 0:02:29.880 to recover sial boxes? We had a sereal box. Yes, 0:02:30.560 --> 0:02:35.440 it was crazy, honey, shrunk my own h what's the 0:02:35.440 --> 0:02:40.400 one with the banney cheerio is with the b and 0:02:40.440 --> 0:02:45.720 we did a commercial we were on Yeah. Um, so 0:02:45.919 --> 0:02:49.000 it was definitely the highest profile GA that I had 0:02:49.000 --> 0:02:52.520 booked to that point. And I remember when I got 0:02:52.560 --> 0:02:57.200 the audition, I got the call back and I went 0:02:57.240 --> 0:03:00.280 in and I think Jack Bender was the direct there 0:03:00.400 --> 0:03:03.639 of the first episode because I was always supposed to 0:03:03.680 --> 0:03:10.040 do one wow, and it ended up being six episodes, right, yeah, yeah, 0:03:10.120 --> 0:03:16.119 and uh, he gave me an adjustment in the callback, 0:03:18.480 --> 0:03:26.040 I think he said. I think he said, just bring 0:03:26.120 --> 0:03:30.600 it down because the way I was reading Jordan is 0:03:30.760 --> 0:03:34.320 he was upset with the way his high school had 0:03:34.360 --> 0:03:37.680 been depicted as a high school that was in the hood. 0:03:38.320 --> 0:03:41.480 And uh, I brought it down. He said, thank you. 0:03:41.960 --> 0:03:45.160 And I remember getting a call from my manager a 0:03:45.200 --> 0:03:48.520 couple hours later and she said, okay, you're You're on 0:03:48.560 --> 0:03:52.680 the short list, but you have to be approved by 0:03:52.760 --> 0:03:56.680 Aaron Spelling himself. And I was like, really, I'm going 0:03:56.720 --> 0:04:01.800 to be united by Aaron Spelling? What? And then she 0:04:01.920 --> 0:04:04.200 called back, I think it was that night or earlier 0:04:04.240 --> 0:04:06.240 the next day, and said I had to roll. So 0:04:07.520 --> 0:04:10.240 were you so excited, like like, that's a good call 0:04:10.320 --> 0:04:13.360 to get no matter what show it's on, it was. 0:04:14.200 --> 0:04:18.600 It was exciting my I think my manager was standing 0:04:18.720 --> 0:04:21.359 at my My manager at the time was really cool. 0:04:21.480 --> 0:04:23.080 I think it was the first time I saw her 0:04:23.160 --> 0:04:26.440 actually get up and like jump around in her office. 0:04:29.200 --> 0:04:31.440 Even then, once you got the part, you still thought 0:04:31.480 --> 0:04:33.440 it was for one episode or did they know then 0:04:33.480 --> 0:04:37.080 they were no, they didn't don't know that until after 0:04:37.120 --> 0:04:40.480 we shot. It was in the camp. Then my agent 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:44.080 called and said, yeah, they're bringing you back, and it 0:04:44.160 --> 0:04:46.880 was gonna be um, but they ended up being six. 0:04:46.920 --> 0:04:48.599 And I don't know if you guys know this, but 0:04:49.600 --> 0:04:52.920 they were actually talking about bringing me back the following season. 0:04:54.160 --> 0:04:58.120 So one day I came to set and you know, 0:04:58.200 --> 0:05:02.320 Gabrielle and I were dating on the show, and she 0:05:02.440 --> 0:05:05.120 came up to me. She said, hey, Michael, and she 0:05:05.279 --> 0:05:08.279 was kind of somber, and I was like, hey, Gabby, 0:05:08.360 --> 0:05:10.920 what's up. She said, I gotta tell you something. I said, 0:05:10.960 --> 0:05:14.680 what she goes on pregnant. I said, congratulations, and she 0:05:14.720 --> 0:05:20.320 said yeah, they don't want you to be the father. 0:05:21.120 --> 0:05:23.840 And I was like, okay, so they're gonna write it 0:05:23.839 --> 0:05:26.960 into the show. She's like yeah, And I said, okay, Hey, 0:05:26.960 --> 0:05:32.240 it's nice stopped me gap my career by good luck 0:05:32.320 --> 0:05:37.280 with your baby, right so, And I think that was 0:05:37.400 --> 0:05:41.800 around the I'm not sure wearing a season. I think 0:05:41.839 --> 0:05:44.520 it was like the fourth and fifth episode. So I 0:05:44.800 --> 0:05:47.440 knew that any top of me coming back the phone 0:05:47.520 --> 0:05:52.280 the season, that's a that's a bad break right there. 0:05:52.320 --> 0:05:57.560 You got dealta a dud deal because the baby into 0:05:57.640 --> 0:06:00.960 the show, like they used her pregnant. See that's right, 0:06:01.839 --> 0:06:06.760 that's right. And Jesse I think his name was Jesse, Yes, 0:06:07.040 --> 0:06:11.640 the character. Yeah, yes, you know, all my friends are like, dude, 0:06:11.720 --> 0:06:13.400 that could have been you. I was like, I know, 0:06:14.040 --> 0:06:17.839 leave me alone. I'm going to be crying. I loved 0:06:17.920 --> 0:06:20.240 the character of Jordan Bonner, Like, yeah, we all the 0:06:20.360 --> 0:06:22.320 character of Jesse was cool, but like that would have 0:06:22.400 --> 0:06:25.840 been really cool, like to continue that storyline and you're 0:06:25.880 --> 0:06:28.880 the father and to to focus on you know what 0:06:29.080 --> 0:06:32.200 you did so beautifully already for the show. What's such 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:36.480 an important pivotal role on the show by you know, 0:06:36.640 --> 0:06:41.880 sort of representing all the the racial inequities that were 0:06:41.920 --> 0:06:45.280 happening in in the you know, the storylines at that time. 0:06:45.400 --> 0:06:47.440 You you played all of that so beautifully, and it 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:50.160 would have been so impressive to like expand that and 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:53.720 let that. Yeah, that would lay out great story and 0:06:53.839 --> 0:06:56.120 no offense to gap. But I can't. That's kind of 0:06:56.160 --> 0:07:00.680 shocking that she delivered that information, right, Yeah, I'm like 0:07:00.800 --> 0:07:05.000 outside the makeup trailer probably like like yes, I think 0:07:05.080 --> 0:07:07.680 we're in the sound stage, but you know, Daddy and 0:07:07.760 --> 0:07:10.000 I actually stayed in touch over the years, and I 0:07:10.120 --> 0:07:15.880 think because we were dating on the show, she felt 0:07:16.000 --> 0:07:18.320 like I think I remember saying something in the fact 0:07:18.360 --> 0:07:21.200 that I wanted you to hear it from me because 0:07:21.920 --> 0:07:25.480 you boyfriend and girlfriend on the show, and I know 0:07:25.680 --> 0:07:29.360 how this can, you know, affect someone, and I just 0:07:29.440 --> 0:07:31.880 wanted you to hear it from me. So I think 0:07:31.960 --> 0:07:34.560 she was it was like a caretaker thing for her 0:07:35.080 --> 0:07:38.480 and gotten to know her a little bit over the years. 0:07:38.760 --> 0:07:40.680 I haven't seen her now in a few years, but 0:07:41.240 --> 0:07:43.840 we would bump into each other and hook up. I've 0:07:43.880 --> 0:07:47.440 been to her home and her family. Um, that's who 0:07:47.520 --> 0:07:51.320 she is, you know. So it was unfortunate to hear. 0:07:51.520 --> 0:07:55.000 But I actually when they called me, when my rets 0:07:55.040 --> 0:07:58.080 called me to tell me, I was like, yeah, I 0:07:58.920 --> 0:08:00.600 kind of knew. They're like, why do you tell us? 0:08:00.640 --> 0:08:03.040 I was like, I was kind of hoping it wouldn't manifest, 0:08:03.480 --> 0:08:07.920 but you know, so, but these are the kinds of 0:08:08.040 --> 0:08:11.280 things that we deal with them, this crazy roller coaster 0:08:11.440 --> 0:08:15.760 called the Hollywood career. We we've had Gab on our 0:08:15.840 --> 0:08:19.480 show a couple of times now and we are very 0:08:19.520 --> 0:08:22.480 close with her, and she told us something that kind 0:08:22.560 --> 0:08:27.120 of rocked our worlds, which was, uh, that you guys 0:08:27.200 --> 0:08:31.440 were love interests. It was going somewhere, and we loved it. 0:08:31.560 --> 0:08:33.920 We were both Tory and I were both because we're 0:08:33.920 --> 0:08:36.559 watching the show back. So when that episode came out, 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:38.880 you guys started to like flirt and you're both at 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:41.640 the Yale party. We got getting really excited that that 0:08:41.760 --> 0:08:46.040 was about to happen. But she said that that the producers, 0:08:47.000 --> 0:08:49.520 when they started to go a different direction, they wouldn't 0:08:49.520 --> 0:08:52.439 even let you guys kiss, and she felt that it 0:08:52.559 --> 0:08:56.520 was a racial thing like that they weren't going to 0:08:56.640 --> 0:08:58.880 go there. And she told us that when we were 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:01.040 doing pH now to know, she was like, there was 0:09:01.080 --> 0:09:05.240 a couple of things that happened that wouldn't have happened nowadays. 0:09:05.559 --> 0:09:07.080 But then it was like she wasn't allowed to wear 0:09:07.080 --> 0:09:09.080 a Jewish cross, she wasn't allowed to kiss the black man, 0:09:09.200 --> 0:09:12.439 Like yeah, she kept pointing things out that we were like, what, 0:09:12.720 --> 0:09:15.679 we didn't know this was happening at the time, right right. 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:18.880 I remember her talking to me about the cross, sorry, 0:09:18.920 --> 0:09:20.880 not a Jewish cross. That made no sense coming from 0:09:20.880 --> 0:09:23.640 the Jewish girl here a Jewish star. She wasn't allowed 0:09:23.640 --> 0:09:25.400 to wear a Jewish star, she wasn't allowed to kiss 0:09:25.440 --> 0:09:29.280 the black Man on camera and it just blew our minds. Yeah, 0:09:29.800 --> 0:09:33.640 it surprised me because to your dad was known as 0:09:33.720 --> 0:09:36.960 an innovator. I mean, I think, if I'm not mistaking 0:09:37.000 --> 0:09:41.960 in revitation for introducing the first situation a couple on TV, 0:09:44.120 --> 0:09:47.040 it was the mon Squad yapp So I was I 0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:49.600 was huge. He was so proud of that and wanted 0:09:49.640 --> 0:09:52.439 to always continue that. So all I could think of, 0:09:52.679 --> 0:09:55.280 And you know my dad, My dad was Jewish, so 0:09:55.720 --> 0:09:57.480 you would have loved a Jewish her on camera, like 0:09:57.679 --> 0:10:02.000 not just crosses and representing you out our our heritage. 0:10:02.040 --> 0:10:04.120 But like, I can only think that the network at 0:10:04.160 --> 0:10:06.839 the time just wasn't into it. It had to have 0:10:06.920 --> 0:10:08.520 been that, I wonder. I wish I could go back 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:10.679 and ask my dad, like, what was the fight there? 0:10:10.720 --> 0:10:13.720 Which again those things because it was Fox and they 0:10:13.800 --> 0:10:17.720 were also known for beating breaking them all exactly. They 0:10:17.800 --> 0:10:19.840 brought us in a would be in color like they 0:10:19.920 --> 0:10:24.000 were the edgy new for network. It just makes no 0:10:24.120 --> 0:10:29.280 sense to us. Did we know so you heard that too? Yeah? Yeah, um, 0:10:30.040 --> 0:10:31.959 like was it actually in the script and then didn't 0:10:31.960 --> 0:10:34.400 happen or never even made it into the script? The kiss? 0:10:35.120 --> 0:10:38.040 I think I have my script somewhere because I remember 0:10:38.080 --> 0:10:40.679 asking you guys to sign them, so it's kind of 0:10:40.880 --> 0:10:43.160 keep safe for me that I've held on to. I 0:10:43.280 --> 0:10:46.640 don't remember seeing that in the script. I just remember 0:10:46.679 --> 0:10:49.440 Gabby when she stopped me to me, I saw her 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:52.679 take off the cross like she got the cross, and 0:10:53.040 --> 0:10:56.240 we had a conversation about it. But I don't remember 0:10:56.400 --> 0:11:00.400 there being at kids, you know. I just I think 0:11:00.480 --> 0:11:05.199 the closest we got physically on the show was we 0:11:05.360 --> 0:11:10.679 actually held hands. I think that's the closest we got 0:11:10.760 --> 0:11:13.120 on the show, and we I think in a couple 0:11:13.160 --> 0:11:15.599 of scenes we were standing show on the shoulder, but 0:11:16.160 --> 0:11:22.040 nothing remotely over. Wow. Yeah, if you could go back 0:11:22.080 --> 0:11:25.319 in time, what would you tell the writers and the 0:11:25.440 --> 0:11:29.160 producers if you had, if you had the opportunity, I 0:11:29.240 --> 0:11:32.760 would say, let's be ahead of the diversity postion to 0:11:32.840 --> 0:11:39.719 do it now, you know, um, be on the forefront. Uh. 0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:47.679 It was what you know, it wasn't so outside the 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:52.080 box to have inter racial people dating at that time, 0:11:52.960 --> 0:11:56.120 you know, to your dad had already done it in 0:11:56.200 --> 0:12:03.079 the seventies. Yeah, so come on, guys, Yeah, you know none. 0:12:03.200 --> 0:12:08.199 Tuno was a young show. Your target demo was young 0:12:08.320 --> 0:12:11.439 if anybody's going to embrace that storyline, it would have 0:12:11.480 --> 0:12:14.160 been a youth. The youth is always leading the revolution, 0:12:14.320 --> 0:12:28.680 so I think it would have been embrace. I remember 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:31.160 at the time though, that there was a lot of 0:12:31.240 --> 0:12:33.760 fan backlash with nine O, two and O because people 0:12:33.800 --> 0:12:36.000 are saying there's no diversity, it's an all white cast 0:12:36.760 --> 0:12:39.920 of main characters. And I remember my dad being so 0:12:40.280 --> 0:12:44.959 deeply hurt by that because that that was always his thing, 0:12:45.559 --> 0:12:48.079 Like he was so into diversity and pushing it and 0:12:48.160 --> 0:12:51.000 pushing the limits when it wasn't even done on TV, so, 0:12:51.720 --> 0:12:53.439 you know, and they kept saying it was you know, 0:12:53.600 --> 0:12:55.559 they never said like, oh, could it be you know, 0:12:56.440 --> 0:13:00.400 the network, it was always Aaron Spelling doesn't put people 0:13:00.400 --> 0:13:04.800 on the show, and it's like, that's not true. That's 0:13:04.840 --> 0:13:09.280 what they do, you know. The season before season two, 0:13:09.960 --> 0:13:14.599 I actually auditioned to play via Vivica Fox's brother for 0:13:14.720 --> 0:13:18.400 that family was Richard rown Tree. Right, Oh, that was 0:13:18.480 --> 0:13:21.559 the first time I read for the casting director whose 0:13:21.679 --> 0:13:24.800 name escapes me. You remember who cast the show? Was 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:31.160 it Joanna right at the time, Jore No, it wasn't. 0:13:31.559 --> 0:13:34.120 I didn't read for Joe anyway. I think she did 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:38.640 the original casting cast and came after. Anyway, I remember 0:13:38.800 --> 0:13:43.720 going in and uh, I read she brought me back 0:13:43.760 --> 0:13:48.199 for producers and then I didn't get it. But what 0:13:48.400 --> 0:13:54.120 I heard happened was that Richard Rowntree wanted more money 0:13:54.520 --> 0:13:57.000 if they were like they were supposed to recur they 0:13:57.040 --> 0:14:00.760 only ended up doing right, They inevitably wanted them, yeah, 0:14:00.960 --> 0:14:04.360 as to fold them into the main cast, right right. 0:14:04.640 --> 0:14:07.719 But from what I understand, Richard Rowntree wasn't getting the 0:14:07.800 --> 0:14:10.480 love he thought he deserved, and Spike he thought he deserved. 0:14:10.720 --> 0:14:14.640 And that's what torpedo that story. Like, I could be wrong, 0:14:14.960 --> 0:14:20.600 I think I agree with him the same, but that's 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:23.760 what I understand. And so when I came back to 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:27.440 read for season for the character in season three, I 0:14:27.640 --> 0:14:32.160 remember it was a guest star. So there were like 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:35.760 four scenes. They were like twelve pages, and it was 0:14:35.840 --> 0:14:38.080 on a Monday, and I spent the weekend working on it. 0:14:38.480 --> 0:14:40.920 When I got there, the Castle rector said, so we're 0:14:40.920 --> 0:14:44.920 just gonna do one scene, and I was like, I 0:14:45.160 --> 0:14:50.000 hate right, and it still happens, But I was said 0:14:50.040 --> 0:14:52.240 to myself, I was having this internal battle and I 0:14:52.320 --> 0:14:54.920 was like, am I gonna stand up for myself right now, 0:14:55.080 --> 0:14:56.840 or am I just gonna do the scene? And I said, 0:14:56.880 --> 0:15:01.760 you know, uh, she picked the scene. It would be 0:15:01.880 --> 0:15:04.240 one thing if she said pick a scene and you 0:15:04.320 --> 0:15:06.960 could pick the scene that you thought best showcase your character. 0:15:07.480 --> 0:15:10.000 She picked the scene, and I said, her name is Diane. 0:15:10.080 --> 0:15:12.480 Her first name is Diane. It just came to me. 0:15:12.560 --> 0:15:15.240 I can't remember her last name, but she said, I said, Diane. 0:15:15.320 --> 0:15:18.280 I said, I think the character is better showcased in 0:15:18.440 --> 0:15:22.240 this scene and she said really. I said, yeah, I 0:15:22.320 --> 0:15:24.680 think that's where the meat is. And she said, well, 0:15:24.960 --> 0:15:26.760 why don't you do the scene I asked you to do, 0:15:26.960 --> 0:15:29.240 and then if you do well, you can have the entree. 0:15:29.440 --> 0:15:36.320 And I was like, Earl, it's called Mike bluff, so 0:15:36.640 --> 0:15:41.440 I was about to have that coming either, so I 0:15:41.560 --> 0:15:44.640 didn't see she picked. She said, okay, Michael, you get 0:15:44.680 --> 0:15:48.680 your entrede today. See I wanted to do which is 0:15:49.200 --> 0:15:51.440 the scene where me and Brandon meet for the first time, 0:15:53.080 --> 0:15:55.880 And I thought that was clearly the best scene out 0:15:55.920 --> 0:15:59.080 of before. And I did it and she goes, I 0:15:59.120 --> 0:16:01.600 want you to come back and producers, and I came 0:16:01.640 --> 0:16:05.200 back and I got the role. But yeah, it's interesting 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:07.440 just how I guess I was destined to be on 0:16:07.560 --> 0:16:11.240 the show because I have a vision for this. Oh, 0:16:11.280 --> 0:16:15.160 I'm glad you you spoke up. That's not good to know. 0:16:16.200 --> 0:16:18.560 It's one of those moments in your career as an 0:16:18.640 --> 0:16:21.680 actor if you take a stand, if you're not afraid 0:16:21.720 --> 0:16:24.840 to take a stand, it cannot only make a change, 0:16:24.960 --> 0:16:28.520 but it empowers you. And you know, when you're starting 0:16:28.560 --> 0:16:30.680 off in this business and you've done a few things, 0:16:30.760 --> 0:16:32.720 but you haven't done a lot. You're trying to take 0:16:32.760 --> 0:16:35.520 your career to the next step, to the next level. 0:16:36.720 --> 0:16:39.640 It's moments like those that can end up defining your career, 0:16:40.080 --> 0:16:42.800 you know. And after that audition, I would walk in 0:16:42.880 --> 0:16:45.720 the room with much more confident and feel like I 0:16:45.880 --> 0:16:48.160 belong instead of doing my best work in the rear 0:16:48.240 --> 0:16:55.400 view mirror in my car the way home. Yes, yeah, wow, 0:16:55.840 --> 0:17:01.240 that's a good lesson for actors out there everywhere. Really 0:17:01.720 --> 0:17:05.240 find your voice when you need it for so short 0:17:05.320 --> 0:17:08.399 a period of time, so you know, take the Like 0:17:09.000 --> 0:17:10.800 that was the first time I took the room. As 0:17:10.840 --> 0:17:14.440 they say, because you are here in class, take the room. 0:17:14.760 --> 0:17:17.359 It's your time. Take the room. And I really hadn't 0:17:17.400 --> 0:17:21.000 felt like I've taken the room until that moment. That's 0:17:21.000 --> 0:17:22.960 when I took the room for the first time. I 0:17:23.080 --> 0:17:25.520 hope I ever have another audition, because I'm going to 0:17:25.640 --> 0:17:29.000 take the room. Take it. I've never taken a room 0:17:29.040 --> 0:17:32.119 in an audition. I'm the worst audition. I don't know 0:17:32.119 --> 0:17:35.320 about you, guys, but she always says that clearly not 0:17:36.200 --> 0:17:40.480 so much. So next time I'm thinking of you. Okay, 0:17:42.000 --> 0:17:44.119 was this one of those auditions have you ever had? 0:17:44.119 --> 0:17:46.520 I mean we've had them, Like the auditions where you're like, oh, 0:17:47.359 --> 0:17:48.879 this is my part, I'm getting it, and you do 0:17:49.040 --> 0:17:50.760 get it. You're like, see, I was right, I knew it, 0:17:50.840 --> 0:17:53.600 and the ones where they were like, amazing, do you 0:17:53.640 --> 0:17:55.840 want me to change anything? No, it was perfect. You're like, 0:17:56.040 --> 0:18:00.440 I'm not getting this, Like did you feel that when 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:04.440 I when I left the callback, I felt like I 0:18:04.680 --> 0:18:07.600 had done a good job. But I've been doing it 0:18:07.680 --> 0:18:09.879 long enough to know that that really didn't mean anything 0:18:09.960 --> 0:18:12.680 because a lot of times when I feel like I 0:18:12.800 --> 0:18:18.159 hit it out of the park, crickets, when I stunk 0:18:18.280 --> 0:18:22.919 up the room. Yeah, they want a book, what exactly 0:18:23.520 --> 0:18:25.600 is There's no rhyme or reason. It's what they have 0:18:25.760 --> 0:18:29.360 in their minds, what they want and sometimes that that comes. 0:18:29.440 --> 0:18:31.560 That happens where some an actor comes in and changes 0:18:31.640 --> 0:18:35.280 their minds like you did that and that's awesome. Oh 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:39.960 thank you, that's so good. So um, what is good you? 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:42.840 What's going on for you now? Like tell us where 0:18:42.960 --> 0:18:46.119 you are and what you're doing? Tell you what's taking 0:18:46.240 --> 0:18:48.560 up the majority of my time right now? If you 0:18:48.640 --> 0:18:53.800 can see my T shirt, it says dead ever. So 0:18:54.560 --> 0:18:58.040 I have a fourteen year old who has followed in 0:18:58.160 --> 0:19:01.960 my footsteps. He actually wee last week just wrapped a 0:19:02.080 --> 0:19:05.560 movie called Heart of a Lion, which is a sony 0:19:05.640 --> 0:19:10.480 picture about the Xbox and champion George Foreman. Oh gosh, wow, 0:19:11.320 --> 0:19:16.320 yeah he George Foreman as a kid. That's amazing. It's 0:19:16.320 --> 0:19:21.040 being directed or was directed by George Tillman, who's known 0:19:21.119 --> 0:19:24.320 for Soul Food, They Hate You Give, Notorious b I G. 0:19:25.400 --> 0:19:28.640 And his mom is being played by Sonya son from 0:19:28.680 --> 0:19:34.359 The Wire and The Shy talk about intense. Um, so 0:19:34.440 --> 0:19:36.760 it's liked you better bring your a game because your 0:19:36.840 --> 0:19:41.879 mom don't play. Oh wow, were you nervous because you 0:19:42.040 --> 0:19:43.840 had to be with him on set? Right? Or did 0:19:43.880 --> 0:19:47.080 he have somebody else? I'm more nervous for him than 0:19:47.160 --> 0:19:51.440 he is for himself. You know, Um, when it's a 0:19:51.480 --> 0:19:54.040 big audition, I'm like, I'm the one that needs to 0:19:54.119 --> 0:19:57.280 calm down and breathe. He's fine. So you are what 0:19:57.400 --> 0:20:01.320 do they call it, what you're stage teach? Now? I 0:20:01.440 --> 0:20:05.040 guess I am, yeah, I mean, you know, he's uh. 0:20:05.880 --> 0:20:08.639 He started. We lived in Chicago for five years from 0:20:08.720 --> 0:20:13.119 twenty nineteen and that's where he really got started. He 0:20:13.240 --> 0:20:15.560 had an agent here in l A before we left, 0:20:16.080 --> 0:20:17.960 and he was auditioning a little bit, but when we 0:20:18.000 --> 0:20:21.680 got to Chicago he really took off. He started doing theater. 0:20:22.400 --> 0:20:25.159 He did uh Last Stop on Market Street, which is 0:20:25.200 --> 0:20:27.960 the world premiere in the Chicago Children's Theater. And he 0:20:28.040 --> 0:20:31.119 started on stage, interestingly enough, at the good Man in 0:20:31.320 --> 0:20:35.320 Chicago doing the four yeth anniversary at a Christmas Carol, 0:20:35.800 --> 0:20:40.440 and it was really surreal because he played. One of 0:20:40.480 --> 0:20:42.359 the roles he played was Turkey Boy, which is a 0:20:42.440 --> 0:20:44.840 little English kid that comes on at the end and 0:20:44.920 --> 0:20:47.320 has a scene with Scrooge. So you have to do 0:20:47.400 --> 0:20:50.080 a British accent. And I was born in one of England, 0:20:50.280 --> 0:20:54.320 so at that age I had that accent. So seeing 0:20:54.400 --> 0:20:59.480 the poor child on stage doing a British accent at 0:20:59.520 --> 0:21:02.120 the same age that you were when you had that accent. 0:21:02.520 --> 0:21:05.600 It was like it was one of those moments. I 0:21:05.720 --> 0:21:10.760 was just like, I got goose bumps. You're so proud. 0:21:11.000 --> 0:21:14.560 I love it. I am I and I'd be proud 0:21:14.600 --> 0:21:17.439 of him regardless. I mean, he just he just got 0:21:17.520 --> 0:21:20.720 an award. I think it's called the President's Award for 0:21:20.800 --> 0:21:24.200 Outstanding Achievement that I didn't even know existed, along with 0:21:24.320 --> 0:21:29.360 being a Distinguished Honished student for grade eight. Um, he's 0:21:29.359 --> 0:21:31.520 got a four point on g p A. I never 0:21:31.600 --> 0:21:46.800 had a four point I feel shamed right now. You're hilarious. Yeah, 0:21:46.920 --> 0:21:48.919 he's a good kid. I got lucky. He's a good kid. 0:21:49.080 --> 0:21:53.240 His name is Kai Katie I and he just goes 0:21:53.280 --> 0:21:56.400 by his first name. That's it. That's all he needs 0:21:56.440 --> 0:22:00.800 to go by. I love it. Wow, I'm kind gratulations. 0:22:01.640 --> 0:22:04.280 Thank you. I'm still in the game, you know, I'm still, 0:22:04.760 --> 0:22:07.200 like most of the rank and file members of the 0:22:07.240 --> 0:22:10.439 screen actors, still playing the auditional game. I had one 0:22:10.480 --> 0:22:14.879 today actually, and my son, ensuring Love, had an audition 0:22:14.960 --> 0:22:17.920 for nine one one two. It's do tomorrow and it's 0:22:17.920 --> 0:22:20.000 for the same episode. But we don't we don't have 0:22:20.080 --> 0:22:22.720 any scenes together. Oh that'd be really fun if you 0:22:23.080 --> 0:22:25.040 got it. Like one of these days, can we just 0:22:25.200 --> 0:22:30.080 work together? Are you auditioning from your home like we 0:22:30.240 --> 0:22:33.080 all are? Will we ever, Jenny, will we ever get 0:22:33.119 --> 0:22:34.960 to go in the room and actually take the wak 0:22:35.000 --> 0:22:36.920 the room. I think it's gonna be a lot easier 0:22:37.000 --> 0:22:40.480 for me to take my living room than their office room. 0:22:40.880 --> 0:22:45.639 So I'm happy with the way. Yeah, so happy about 0:22:45.720 --> 0:22:47.680 self tapes because I was like, oh good, I don't 0:22:47.680 --> 0:22:49.600 have to worry about the nerves are screwing up, Like 0:22:49.680 --> 0:22:52.520 I'll actually just do good work. But I missed the 0:22:52.600 --> 0:22:54.920 room a little bit. I missed the power, you know, 0:22:55.080 --> 0:22:58.359 like seeing people respond and laugh, the energy laugh like 0:22:58.520 --> 0:23:03.280 you know something exactly. Yeah, I feel the same as you, Tori. 0:23:03.480 --> 0:23:08.520 I'm like, I like you like the control. Like I've 0:23:08.840 --> 0:23:11.640 been doing some writing and directing two of short films 0:23:11.760 --> 0:23:14.720 and some of them have been in festivals, one won 0:23:14.840 --> 0:23:19.960 one an award, And so if you have aspirations beyond acting, 0:23:20.760 --> 0:23:24.760 you love the control of your audition. But I told myself, 0:23:24.800 --> 0:23:27.400 I said, you know, I don't know. I think self 0:23:27.480 --> 0:23:29.240 taping is here to stay. I mean, we were doing 0:23:29.280 --> 0:23:32.240 it before COVID, but I think it's here to stay 0:23:32.240 --> 0:23:35.440 in a bigger way. But I think if you're like 0:23:36.119 --> 0:23:39.359 shortlisted for a series or leading the film, you're gonna 0:23:39.400 --> 0:23:43.719 have to go in the room. You know, let's help. Yeah. Um, 0:23:44.040 --> 0:23:46.560 And I said, don't get too comfortable, because I think 0:23:46.960 --> 0:23:49.119 at some point down the road it's gonna be a 0:23:49.240 --> 0:23:51.320 mix of the two where you're going in the room. 0:23:51.400 --> 0:23:55.840 Sometimes the self tape like a hybrid. Yeah, I like 0:23:55.920 --> 0:23:59.560 a hybrid exactly. And going in the room is it's uh, 0:24:00.160 --> 0:24:02.080 especially I haven't done in a while. You know, we 0:24:02.160 --> 0:24:06.440 can be I'm anticipating like having dry mouths. You know, 0:24:06.600 --> 0:24:10.840 you get cotton mouths when you're really nervous, when you 0:24:10.960 --> 0:24:14.879 can't talk. But the energy, I think is what we 0:24:14.960 --> 0:24:18.119 all missed the most. You know. It's like doing theater, 0:24:18.280 --> 0:24:21.040 that energy you get. Like when we moved to Chicago, 0:24:21.160 --> 0:24:24.040 I hadn't done theater in six years, and the first 0:24:24.160 --> 0:24:28.399 show I was so nervous in the wings. Like when 0:24:28.440 --> 0:24:31.240 I was younger doing theater, they would hold me back 0:24:31.280 --> 0:24:34.080 in the wings to go, you're not on yet, flow 0:24:34.160 --> 0:24:37.680 your role, And now doing theater all these years later, 0:24:37.920 --> 0:24:43.920